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Twins score 2 in ninth to beat Rangers

Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre (29) attempts to tag out Minnesota Twins left fielder Eduardo Nunez (9) at third base in the ninth inning Tuesday at Target Field. The Twins won 4-3. (Reuters photo)

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, erasing a one-run deficit, to beat the Texas Rangers 4-3 Tuesday at Target Field.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth, center fielder Danny Santana hit a soft grounder back to Rangers closer Joakim Soria. Soria misplayed the ball and Eduardo Nunez scored from third to cap the comeback win.

Down 3-2 heading into the ninth, the Twins got a one-out double from right fielder Oswaldo Arcia to start the threat. Nunez followed with a single to tie the game and advanced to second on the throw home. He advanced to third on a ground ball to Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre when Beltre could not apply the tag. An intentional walk loaded the bases to set up the rookie Santana.

The blown save was Soria’s first of the season.

A bloop single by Rangers catcher Chris Gimenez in the top of the sixth inning looked like it would be the difference for Texas, as the Rangers took advantage of a crucial fielding miscue by Twins left fielder Chris Parmelee.

Parmelee, starting his second career game in left, failed to call off shortstop Eduardo Escobar on an easy fly ball by Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland. The ball dropped, and Moreland moved to second on a single by Beltre. After a double play erased Beltre at second, Moreland scampered home with the lead run.

Rangers starter Scott Baker, filling in on an injury emergency after Yu Darvish woke up with a stiff neck, was solid against his former team. He allowed only two runs on three hits with four strikeouts and was in line for his first win since July 28, 2011, when Baker beat the Detroit Tigers as a member of the Twins.

Twins starter Phil Hughes was good too, pitching seven innings of three-run ball, allowing eight hits with three strikeouts. He did not walk a batter for the sixth consecutive game and has now gone 175 batters without issuing a free pass.

Minnesota closer Glen Perkins, who worked the top of the ninth, stranded Alex Rios at third base to keep it a one-run deficit. He improved to 2-0.